Learn the backward step - illuminate your self...
Learn the backward step
that turns your light inward
to illuminate your self. .
Body and mind of themselves
will drop away,
and your Original Face will be manifest.
Coming, going, the waterbirds
don't leave a trace,
don't follow a path.
- Dōgen Zenji - 道元禅師 -
*Dōgen Zenji - was known as Eihei Dōgen - 永平道元 - and was a Japanese Buddhist priest, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan. Dōgen lived during the time of January 1200 – September 1253.
Dōgen was originally ordained as a monk in the Tendai School in Kyoto, he was ultimately dissatisfied with its teaching and traveled to China to seek out what he believed to be a more authentic Buddhism. He remained in China for five years, finally training under Tiantong Rujing - 天童如淨 - an eminent teacher of the Chinese Caodong lineage - 曹洞宗 - in Qìngdé Temple - 慶徳寺 - on Tiāntóng Mountain - 天童山 - in Zhejiang Province - 浙江 - .
Upon his return to Japan, Dōgen began promoting the practice of Zazen - silent sitting meditation - through literary works such as Fukan zazengi and Bendōwa....
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